The primary role of an Alcohol and Drug Counselor is to establish a therapeutic relationship while assisting clients in the recognition of problem areas that exist which may prohibit a successful recovery. To this end, the following Domains are utilized in the certification process to assure competence of the Addictions Counselor:
Requirements
Domain I: Screening, Assessment, and Engagement
Domain II: Treatment Planning, Collaboration, and Referral
Domain III: Counseling
Domain IV: Professional and Ethical Responsibilities
| Domain I: Screening, Assessment, and Engagement | |
| Task 1 | Demonstrate verbal and non-verbal communication to establish rapport and promote engagement. |
| Task 2 | Discuss with the client the rationale, purpose, and procedures associated with the screening and assessment process to facilitate client understanding and cooperation. |
| Task 3 | Assess client’s immediate needs by evaluating observed behavior and other relevant information including signs and symptoms of intoxication and withdrawal. |
| Task 4 | Administer appropriate evidence-based screening and assessment instruments specific to clients to determine their strengths and needs. |
| Task 5 | Obtain relevant history and related information from the client and other pertinent sources to establish eligibility and appropriateness of services. |
| Task 6 | Screen for physical needs, medical conditions, and co-occurring mental health disorders that might require additional assessment and referral. |
| Task 7 | Interpret results of screening and assessment and integrate all available information to formulate diagnostic impression and determine an appropriate course of action. |
| Task 8 | Develop a written summary of the results of the screening and assessment to document and support the diagnostic impressions and treatment recommendations. |
Domain II: Treatment Planning, Collaboration, and Referral |
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| Task 1 | Formulate and discuss diagnostic assessment and recommendations with the client and concerned others to initiate an individualized treatment plan that incorporates client’s strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences. |
| Task 2 | Use ongoing assessment and collaboration with the client and concerned others to review and modify the treatment plan to address treatment needs. |
| Task 3 | Match client needs with community resources to facilitate positive client outcomes. |
| Task 4 | Discuss rationale for a referral with the client. |
| Task 5 | Communicate with community resources regarding needs of the client. |
| Task 6 | Advocate for the client in areas of identified needs to facilitate continuity of care. |
| Task 7 | Evaluate the effectiveness of case management activities to ensure quality service coordination. |
| Task 8 | Develop a plan with the client to strengthen ongoing recovery outside of primary treatment. |
| Task 9 | Document treatment progress, outcomes, and continuing care plans. |
| Task 10 | Utilize multiple pathways of recovery in treatment planning and referral (New Task) |
Domain III: Counseling |
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| Task 1 | Develop a therapeutic relationship with clients, families, and concerned others to facilitate transition into the recovery process. |
| Task 2 | Provide information to the client regarding the structure, expectations, and purpose of the counseling process. |
| Task 3 | Continually evaluate the client’s safety, relapse potential, and the need for crisis intervention. |
| Task 4 | Apply evidence based culturally competent counseling strategies and modalities to facilitate progress towards completion of treatment objectives. |
| Task 5 | Assist families and concerned others in understanding substance use disorders and engage them in the recovery process |
| Task 6 | Document counseling activity and progress towards treatment goals and objectives. |
| Task 7 | Provide information on issues of identity, ethnic background, age, sexual orientation, gender and other factors that influence behavior as they relate to substance use, prevention, and recovery. |
| Task 8 | Provide information about the disease of addiction and the related health and psychosocial consequences. |
Domain IV: Professional and Ethical Responsibilities |
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| Task 1 | Adhere to established professional codes of ethics and standards of practice to uphold client rights while promoting best interests of the client and profession. |
| Task 2 | Recognize diversity and client demographics, culture and other factors influencing behavior to provide services that are sensitive to the uniqueness of the individual. |
| Task 3 | Continue professional development through education, self-evaluation, clinical supervision, and consultation to maintain competence and enhance professional effectiveness. |
| Task 4 | Identify and evaluate client needs that are outside of the counselor’s ethical scope of practice and refer to other professionals as appropriate. |
| Task 5 | Uphold client’s rights to privacy and confidentiality according to best practices in preparation and handling of records. |
| Task 6 | Obtain written consent to release information from the client and/or legal guardian, according to best practices. |
| Task 7 | Prepare concise clinically accurate and objective reports and records. |
Domain I: Screening, Assessment, and Engagement
Domain II: Treatment Planning, Collaboration, and Referral
Domain III: Counseling and Education
Domain IV: Professional and Ethical Responsibilities
| Domain I: Screening, Assessment, and Engagement | |
| Task 1 | Demonstrate verbal and non-verbal skills to establish rapport and promote engagement with persons served presenting at all levels of severity. |
| Task 2 | Discuss with persons served the rationale, purpose, and procedures associated with the screening and assessment process to facilitate understanding and cooperation. |
| Task 3 | Assess the immediate needs and readiness for change of the person served through evaluation of observed behavior and other relevant signs and symptoms of co-occurring substance use and/or mental health disorders. |
| Task 4 | Recognize the interactions between co-occurring substance use, mental health and/or other health conditions. |
| Task 5 | Assess for appropriateness of consultation and referral for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for substance use and/or mental health disorders. |
| Task 6 | Identify screening and assessment tools that are appropriate to the demographics of the person served. |
| Task 7 | Use clinical interviews and assessment instruments to obtain and document relevant bio/psycho/social/spiritual information from the person served and/or concerned others. |
| Task 8 | Screen for risk of harm to person served and/or others. |
| Task 9 | Formulate diagnosis(es) based on the signs and symptoms of co-occurring substance use and/or mental health disorders by interpreting observable behavior, objective data, and results of interviews and assessment. |
| Task 10 | Utilize the appropriate placement criteria to determine the level of care. |
| Task 11 | Develop a comprehensive written summary based on the results of screening and bio/psycho/social/spiritual assessment to support the diagnosis(es) and treatment recommendations. |
Domain II: Treatment Planning, Collaboration, and Referral |
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| Task 1 | Discuss diagnostic assessment, findings, and recommendations with the person served and concerned others. |
| Task 2 | Formulate and prioritize mutually agreed upon specific and reasonable short and long-term goals, measurable objectives, treatment methods, and resources based upon ongoing assessment findings that address the interactive relationship of each disorder identified. |
| Task 3 | Identify and facilitate access to community resources to support ongoing recovery. |
| Task 4 | Collaborate with the person served in reviewing and modifying the treatment plan based on an assessment of progress and the level of readiness to address substance use and/or mental health goals. |
| Task 5 | Develop a plan with the person served to strengthen ongoing recovery outside of primary treatment. |
| Task 6 | Document treatment progress, outcomes, and continuing care plans. |
| Task 7 | Adapt intervention strategies to the unique needs of the person served, recognizing multiple pathways of recovery. |
| Task 8 | Determine effectiveness and outcome of referrals through ongoing evaluation and documentation. |
| Task 9 | Document all collaboration, consultation and referrals. |
| Task 10 | Collaborate with other professionals. |
Domain III: Counseling and Education |
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| Task 1 | Develop a therapeutic relationship with persons served, families, and concerned others. |
| Task 2 | Continually evaluate the safety and relapse potential of the person served and develop strategies to anticipate as well as respond to crises. |
| Task 3 | Apply evidence-based, culturally competent counseling strategies and modalities to facilitate progress towards completion of treatment objectives. |
| Task 4 | Document services provided and progress toward goals and objectives. |
| Task 5 | Educate the person served regarding the structure, expectations, and limitations of the counseling process. |
| Task 6 | Utilize individual and group counseling strategies and modalities to match the interventions with the level of readiness of the person served to address substance use and/or mental health goals. |
| Task 7 | Adapt counseling strategies to match the unique characteristics and choices of the person served. |
| Task 8 | Educate the person served and concerned others about the biological and psychiatric effects of substance use and misuse. |
| Task 9 | Educate the person served and concerned others about pharmacotherapies for substance use and mental health disorders. |
| Task 10 | Assist families and concerned others in understanding the symptoms of specific disorders, their interactive effects including the relationship between symptoms and stressors, co-occurring substance use and/or mental health disorders, and the use of strategies that sustain recovery and maintain healthy relationships. |
| Task 11 | Identify and adapt education strategies to the unique needs of the person served and concerned others |
| Task 12 | Communicate needed subject matter in a clear, understandable, culturally, and developmentally appropriate manner. |
| Task 13 | Utilize outcome data to continually adapt counseling strategies and update treatment plan to maximize clinical effectiveness. |
| Task 14 | Educate the person served and support system about self-efficacy and empowerment. |
Domain IV: Professional and Ethical Responsibilities |
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| Task 1 | Adhere to established professional codes of ethics and standards of practice. |
| Task 2 | Adhere to jurisdictionally specific rules and regulations regarding best practices in coordinating and/or providing co-occurring substance use, mental health, and health services. |
| Task 3 | Demonstrate cultural competence. |
| Task 4 | Recognize personal biases, including feelings, concerns, and other issues to minimize impact of these variables in the counseling process. |
| Task 5 | Continue professional development through education, self-evaluation, clinical supervision, and consultation. |
| Task 6 | Identify and evaluate the needs of the person served that are outside of the counselor’s scope of practice and refer to other professionals as appropriate. |
| Task 7 | Understand and apply current relevant research literature to improve the care of the person served and enhance the counselor’s professional development. |
| Task 8 | Understand and utilize technological advances in service delivery. |
| Task 9 | Protect the integrity of the profession and best interests of persons served by identifying, addressing, and advocating for impaired professionals. |
| Task 10 | Protect the integrity of the profession and best interests of persons served by identifying and addressing unethical practices. |
| Task 11 | Uphold the rights of the person served to privacy and confidentiality according to jurisdictionally specific rules and regulations. |
| Task 12 | Obtain required written consent to release information from the person served and/or legal guardian. |
| Task 13 | Prepare timely, concise, clinically accurate, and objective reports and records. |
| Task 14 | Advocate for and assist the person served in navigating the service delivery system. |
| Task 15 | Provide all services in a trauma-informed manner. |
Domain I: Counselor Development
Domain II: Professional and Ethical Standards
Domain III: Program Development and Quality Assurance
Domain IV: Assessing Counselor Competencies and Performance
Domain V: Treatment Knowledge
| Domain I: Counselor Development | |
| Task 1 | Build a supportive and individualized supervisor alliance, teach the purpose of clinical supervision, and respect professional boundaries |
| Task 2 | Maintain a constructive, safe supervisory learning environment that fosters self-awareness and awareness of others |
| Task 3 | Help supervisees develop skills specific to working with culturally diverse clients |
| Task 4 | Provide ongoing feedback to supervisees on their conceptualizations of client needs and appropriate therapeutic interventions |
| Task 5 | Create a professional development plan in collaboration with supervisees that includes specific, measurable goals and objectives |
| Task 6 | Direct supervisory activities to teach and develop supervisees |
| Task 7 | Educate supervisees regarding best practice developments |
Domain II: Professional and Ethical Standards |
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| Task 1 | Ensure adherence to professional codes of ethics |
| Task 2 | Participate in Clinical Supervisor Professional Development |
| Task 3 | Seek supervision and implement a professional development plan |
| Task 4 | Ensure that supervisees disclose supervision practices to clients |
| Task 5 | Use and teach supervisees ethical decision-making models and monitor their use |
| Task 6 | Understand the risks of dual relationships |
| Task 7 | Provide timely consultation and guidance to supervisees in situations that present moral, legal, and/or ethical dilemmas |
| Task 8 | Recognize and address impaired practice of self and others |
Domain III: Program Development and Quality Assurance |
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| Task 1 | Structure and facilitate staff education |
| Task 2 | Recognizing and understanding the limitations of evidence-based practices |
| Task 3 | Develop strategies for enhancing client access, engagement, and retention in treatment |
| Task 4 | Support and develop the agency quality assurance plan and comply with all monitoring and documenting requirements |
| Task 5 | Utilize referral sources and other community programs |
| Task 6 | Identify and assess program needs and develop a plan to improve clinical services |
| Task 7 | Perform crisis intervention and management |
Domain IV: Assessing Counselor Competencies and Performance |
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| Task 1 | Establish counselor role expectations |
| Task 2 | Understand supervision as a bi-directional evaluative process |
| Task 3 | Assess supervisees’ motivation, professional development, cultural, and clinical competence |
| Task 4 | Participate in performance recognition, disciplinary actions, and other personnel decisions |
Domain V: Treatment Knowledge |
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| Task 1 | Demonstrate an understanding of substance-related addictive disorders, co-occurring disorders, and self-help philosophy |
| Task 2 | Understand the principles and theories of addiction, addiction prevention and treatment, and treatment limitations |
| Task 3 | Understand the use of pharmacological interventions and interactions |
Domain I: Advocacy
Domain II: Mentoring/Education
Domain III: Recovery Support
Domain IV: Ethical Responsibility